Building Bicycles. Rebuilding Lives.
Through Build to Bond, incarcerated parents craft bamboo bikes for their children—hands-on learning that strengthens families. Join the movement: workshops in London, kits shipped worldwide. No experience needed.
A genuinely impactful initiative.
- Investec 2025 Winner
- 4,000+ People Trained
- OCN Level 2 Certified
As Featured In
Two Ways to Build Your Bike
Why Bamboo?
Nature's Perfect Frame Material
Bamboo combines the best qualities of steel, carbon, and titanium. It's stronger than steel, absorbs vibration better than carbon fibre, and grows back in just 3-5 years.
Our Story
13 years of building more than bikes
In 2012, James and Ian opened a small workshop in Hackney with one goal: prove that anyone can build a bicycle frame.
Today, we use bamboo bicycle building for prison rehabilitation, school programmes, and community projects. Every bike we help create connects people — to craft, to purpose, and to each other.
"If we want people to choose sustainable options, we need to offer something better than what polluting products can be."
— James Marr, Founder
Key Milestones
James & Ian open first workshop in Hackney
Prison rehabilitation programme launches
Beyond Business award for social impact
Adventure
Where Our Bikes Go
Colombia to Tierra del Fuego
Kate Rawles, Environmental Advocate
"Woody turned out to be the most reliable bike I've ever owned. I had hardly any mechanical problems on the whole journey."
Kate rode her BBC-built bamboo bike 'Woody' through the Andes, documenting the journey in her book 'The Life Cycle'.
London to New Zealand
Pamir Highway, Winter
Daily Commute, 7+ Years
Jamie, Romania
Recognition
As Featured In
"Bamboo Bicycle Club taps into 'the IKEA effect' — that extra bit of affection people reserve for objects they put together themselves."
Financial Times September 2025
Investec Beyond Business
2025 Winner£24,000 for prison education work
Kevin McCloud's Green Heroes
2018Grand Designs Live
Design Museum Exhibition
2015-16Cycle Revolution
Featured in:
From Our Builders
Real Stories
"Still riding mine daily after 7 years. Built it at home in Romania using the kit. It's outlasted two steel bikes I owned before."
"How did it feel riding something mostly made from a member of the grass family? Surprisingly good."
"Innovative projects like Build to Bond support rehabilitation and help people leave prison as better citizens."
Your bike is waiting to be built
Join 4,000+ people who've discovered the joy of building their own sustainable bicycle.